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I have had iPads, usually more than one at a time, since the iPad 2 and never bought AC - until I bought a 2018 iPad Pro 12.9". For me, it just seemed too big a target, too fragile and too expensive not to buy AC. I was more concerned with physical damage than warranty coverage for the electronics inside.

Worth every penny if you keep your Apple devices long term.

Not sure about how beneficial AC is for long-term ownership - it only extends the warranty to a second year. After year two, we're on our own.
 
I have had iPads, usually more than one at a time, since the iPad 2 and never bought AC - until I bought a 2018 iPad Pro 12.9". For me, it just seemed too big a target, too fragile and too expensive not to buy AC. I was more concerned with physical damage than warranty coverage for the electronics inside.

Not sure about how beneficial AC is for long-term ownership - it only extends the warranty to a second year. After year two, we're on our own.
You can also get an extra year or two via credit card extended warranty for total coverage of 3-4 years.

For me, the issue is even if I can afford the $500-1.2K to replace the iPad, if it dies just before a new model is released, I'd probably be paralyzed by indecision. I'd want to replace it but then I'd also want to just save the out of warranty service fee towards a new model. A $49 deductible is so much easier on the psychology. :p
 
AppleCare is WELL worth it. Why wouldn’t you want to protect your investment? I have ten iPads and i have AppleCare on each one.

Murphy’s Law guarantees that if I didn’t have AppleCare on one of my ten, THAT would be the device I have problems with.
 
I have only had AppleCare on 3 devices; the 2 iPhones I purchased through Apple’s upgrade program, and my current iPP 11” (I’m doing the 5.99/month, which just feels less painful).

I’ll admit I’ve never had an issue, but last week when I took in my grandson’s 6th gen LTE iPad (bought last April, so 15 months old) with a useless, broken charging port, I was wishing all I had was a $25 deductible. Instead, my options were to pay $249 for a replacement on the spot, or walk out with a still broken iPad (which is what I did).

That being said, though it hurt in the moment, I’ve bought SO many i devices over the last 10 years that have never required repair, that I don’t think I could’ve justified paying for AppleCare for all of them. Obviously it’s a risk, but paying to replace the 6th gen will cost me a lot less than buying AppleCare on somewhere around 25 different phones and iPads over the last 5-6 years (yes, that many - I cycle through replacing/updating and handing down iPads for various grandkids annually, as well as buying my own phones/iPads - it’s pretty ridiculous).

I DO make sure all devices have screen protectors and cases from day 1 - that helps).
 
Some people share posts on local forums saying they are refused to receive lower payment accidental damage repair since they are not the “original owner of the device”. I guess that’s isolated cases but then I am a bit worried about that.

Interesting, it has been my experience that AppleCare follows the device not the owner. That was for a Macbook Pro so may be different.
 
I didn’t buy it until I dropped an iPad and smashed the screen, was not a cheap repair and kicked myself for not buying it.

Have bought AppleCare since - also helps the resell value later when the market is flooded with people selling their devices when new models are announced.
 
If you drop your iPad and shatter it Apple will replace it for $49. If your iPad bends Apple will replace it for $49. Never say never. Accidents DO happen and when we least expect it. The peace of mind s worth it. It will cost you $5.99 a month for the life of your iPad. Worth it!
 
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